In a quiet trading center outside Kampala, residents once relied on kerosene lamps and candles to light their evenings. Many doubted that affordable solar power could ever reach their homes. "We heard about solar projects before, but they never came this far," recalls one shopkeeper.
Today, those same homes glow with solar-powered LED lights. Through a regional solar access program, families in Mukono, Luwero, and Kayunga districts have received small but powerful 4W solar home systems that illuminate two or three rooms each night.
A tailor in Mukono now keeps her sewing machine running well past sunset, while schoolchildren nearby complete their homework under bright, steady light. "It’s not just about light—it’s about freedom," she says with a smile. "We can plan our evenings without worrying about smoke or fuel costs."
The Central Uganda Solar Access Project, implemented in partnership with local distributors and village councils, has already installed over 200 systems across five communities. Each installation provides dependable, renewable power to households that were once in darkness.
The impact goes beyond convenience. Village kiosks are now open later, teachers can prepare lessons at night, and rural health posts can safely assist patients after dark. With mobile phone charging stations included in the kits, communication has improved across entire parishes.
One kiosk owner in Luwero explained, "Before, I closed at 7 PM. Now I stay open until 10. The light brings customers, and customers bring income." Similar stories are spreading across the region as local economies quietly strengthen under solar light.
To ensure sustainability, the program trained local youth as solar maintenance agents. Equipped with basic tools and certification, they provide on-call support and minor repairs, creating jobs and building technical capacity within the community.
What began as a pilot initiative is now a model for renewable energy access in Uganda’s central corridor. From the outskirts of Kampala to remote villages in Kayunga, solar power is no longer a promise—it’s a daily reality lighting up lives and livelihoods.